Evaluation of chemical and microbial quality of food in northern Iran

BACKGROUND

Iran is one of the developing countries and foodborne diseases commonly impose problems for public health, the health care system and the economy. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical and microbial quality of food in northern Iran.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. This study was performed on food samples obtained in a straightforward way while visiting food preparation and distribution centers in Babol. Tests related to different food types were performed by laboratory experts. Data collection with a checklist: date and place of sampling, number of samples, type of food, type of test, compliance of results with standards. Data were analyzed by SPSS22 and descriptive statistics, Chi-square and t-test.

RESULTS

1043 food samples were tested from 5 groups of dairy products, protein, cereals, vegetables and other food groups. The highest number of samples in the cereal group was 767 samples (73.53%). In the cereal group, most samples were breads. The pH of 11.67% of breads and the salt in 21.49% of breads did not match the standard. The blankit (sodium hydrosulfite) on bread dough were negative. Moisture, gluten, ash and pH match with the standards in all flour samples. The results of microbial tests on sweets and ice cream showed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella were negative. Enterobacter aerogenes was positive in 8.20% of sweets, mold and yeast were positive in 19.58%. The results of microbial tests on buttermilk and yogurt, grilled meat and chicken sandwiches, vegetables and salads showed that bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and all microorganisms were negative. Mold tests were positive in 11.12% of juice samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that the foods and drinks supplied in food and drink preparation and distribution centers in Babol in 2019 were of good chemical and microbial quality. In some food groups the results of microbial and chemical testings were negative, i.e. without contamination. Less than 20% of products in the group of cereals and protein products did not match with the standards, which is a satisfactory result compared to other studies conducted in different cities of Iran. These good results for food quality can be explained bythe constructive performance of food health experts that made good controling, monitoring, and food health and hygiene education.

Evaluation of organizational and social commitments and related factors during the coronavirus pandemic of healthcare workers in northern Iran

Background

Serious conditions caused by the coronavirus epidemic are expected to affect the mental and physical health, organizational and social commitments of healthcare workers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the organizational and social commitments and related factors during the coronavirus pandemic of healthcare workers in northern Iran.

Methods

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020 among 260 healthcare workers of Babol health centers by a stratified-random sampling method. Data were collected according to a valid and reliable questionnaire consisting of three parts: 8 questions about personal and job characteristics, 15 questions from Porter Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ), 15 questions from Carroll’s social responsibility. Each question was scored on the Likert scale of organizational and social commitment questionnaires. Data were analyzed by chi-square and logistic regression. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

None of the healthcare workers belonged to the category of low organizational commitments. A portion of 27.7% of the healthcare workers had moderate organizational commitments and 72.3% had high organizational commitments. A portion of 9.2% of the healthcare workers had moderate social commitments and 90.8% had high social commitments. Chi-square showed that education (p = 0.001), job position (p = 0.001) and the area in which healthcare workers were present for service (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with organizational commitments. According to OR in the logistic regression model, healthcare workers with master’s and doctoral education levels had 3.482 times more social commitments than others and the health group had 2.455 times more social commitments compared to the treatment group.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that at the time of the coronavirus outbreak, the healthcare workers in Babol had very positive and high organizational and social commitments. As the world struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, employee and organizational productivity may decline due to the fear and anxiety of healthcare workers in various organizations. It is expected that managers of health-related organizations, social, economic, and cultural organizations use the results of this study to identify factors affecting the organizational and social commitments of employees and strengthen them.

Low-Dose Gabapentin in Treatment of High-Altitude Headache

Headache is the most prevalent symptom of acute mountain sickness. We conducted a pilot clinical trial at an altitude of 3500 m to evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin in treatment of high-altitude headache (HAH). Twenty-four adult HAH patients (10 female, 14 male; age 18–50 years) were randomly assigned to receive either 300 mg of gabapentin capsule or identical placebo. After 1 h the presence of HAH and need to receive supplementary analgesic were assessed. The duration of the HAH-free phase after taking additional analgesic was also registered. Four patients in the gabapentin group asked for additional analgesics, whereas nine placebo recipients did not find primary medication satisfactory after the first hour of treatment ( P = 0.04). The mean HAH-free period was 17.10 h in the gabapentin group, which was significantly higher than in the placebo group with a mean of 10.08 h ( P = 0.02). This preliminary observation indicates that gabapentin is effective in treatment and alleviation of HAH.

Gabapentin for prevention of hypobaric hypoxia-induced headache: randomized double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

High-altitude headache (HAH) is a hypobaric hypoxia-induced symptom that is commonly experienced by newcomers to high-altitude areas.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of gabapentin in the prevention of HAH.

METHODS

A placebo-controlled randomised trial was performed at an altitude of 3500 m. Two hundred and four unacclimatised 15-65-year-old (mean age (+/-SD), 31.5 (SD 11.7)) hotel guests were randomly assigned to a 600 mg single-dose of gabapentin capsule or identical placebo. HAH incidence and intensity were measured to assess gabapentin efficacy. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

RESULTS

HAH incidence was not significantly different between subjects under gabapentin (44 (43.1%)) compared with placebo (56 (54.9%); p = 0.09). In contrast, moderate/severe HAH had a lower incidence in the gabapentin group (27 (26.5%)) versus the placebo group (42 (41.2%)), showing that gabapentin reduced HAH attack intensity (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Gabapentin was effective for the prevention of HAH and had satisfactory tolerability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN26123577.

Striae gravidarum: associated factors

BACKGROUND

Striae gravidarum (SG) is the most common change in connective tissue of pregnant women and may cause cosmetic concerns.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency of SG in Iranian pregnant women and its possible associations with the characteristics of themselves and their newborns.

METHODS

One hundred and eighteen primigravid pregnant women were included in this prospective observational study at their first prenatal visit, among them 114 completed the study and gave birth.

RESULTS

One hundred (87.7%) of 114 women developed SG with a mean Davey's score of 4.04 +/- 2.47. The mean gestational age at which SG first appeared was 27.57 +/- 5.38 weeks. Family history of SG in mother, baseline and delivery body mass index, greatest abdominal and hip girths, newborn weight, height and head circumference were significantly associated with the presence of SG. All of these factors were also correlated with Davey's score.

CONCLUSION

Genetic and physical risk factors may be involved in the development of SG in primigravid women.

Reverse association between high-altitude headache and nasal congestion

No evidence is available to show that nasal congestion is a manifestation of exposing an individual to high altitude and hypoxia. Since both nasal congestion and high-altitude headache are vasogenic, we explored whether there is a coincidence between these two symptoms. A prospective observational study was carried out on a cohort of 118 adults (>18 years old) in a mountain clinic at 3450 m. After 24 h of ascent, an interview was held to ask if each individual experienced acute mountain sickness symptoms (headache, etc.) and nasal congestion. Sixty-six (55.9%) individuals mentioned headache within 24 h after ascent and nasal congestion was reported by 34 (28.8%) individuals. There was a reverse association between headache and nasal congestion (P < 0.001). In conclusion, there is a reverse association between altitude headache and nasal congestion, probably as result of contradictory autoregulation effects or exaggerated sympathetic activity.